by Jen Pretty
I shook my head and closed the door before snatching up my book and straightening my clothes and hair. Good enough, I opened the door and made my way down the stairs. Paxton was waiting at our usual table and Mary was groggily frying up food in the kitchen. I knew it was earlier than usual for breakfast so Paxton must have bribed her to open the kitchen early.
"There you are," Paxton said when he caught sight of me.
"We didn't have to leave this early, did we?" I asked, slumping into the chair across from Paxton.
"Better to get an early start."
Paxton was way too chipper for such an ungodly hour. I yawned and rubbed my eyes, willing myself to wake up. I would need my wits about me if I was going to ride today.
The smell of bacon cooking on the grill helped, so did Paxton's constant conversation.
"So, I spoke to a traveller. He said that bandits attacked him about two day's ride south, but the bandits rode off the same direction, so we might not meet them if they are heading the same way we are."
I nodded, still shoveling eggs into my mouth.
"I also spoke to an old man in town who once lived at the southern coast. He said it's a four-day ride, less if we move faster."
I dropped my fork on my plate with a rattle. 4 days? I had no food. How would I make it that long without food? I was certainly not going to let Paxton pay my way. It was bad enough he had been spending his coins on my breakfast and on Copper's new shoes.
"What's wrong?" Paxton asked, apparently noticing my dismay.
"Nothing, it's just a very far ride," I said. I hoped he didn't notice just how devastated I was. I would find a way to fend for myself. Maybe I could learn to hunt, live on rabbit and grouse eggs? I would figure it out.
Paxton went back to his mindless chatter. He was definitely excited about the prospect of leaving this town. My mind wandered, but kept coming back to the passage in the book of magic I had read last night. The word 'Agan' echoed through my skull like a bell on a church. I still wasn't sure what it meant, but I wanted to say the word loud, my tongue and lips itching to speak it.
My plate was empty and my water glass drained when Paxton rose, scrapping his chair on the wood floor.
"All right, let’s get going." He grinned at me, picking up the loaf of bread that Mary had left on the table.
I rose and straightened my skirt then followed Paxton out to the stable.
"By the way, I found you something in the leather-smith's shop. He was going to throw it out, but it just needed some oil." Paxton pushed open the door to the stable and Copper's deep nicker greeted us.
My eyes took a moment to adjust to the darkness, but when they did, I found Copper's head over the stall door, a beautiful, supple leather halter hugging his cheeks and crossing his wide white blaze.
"Oh my God," I whispered, running my fingers over the soft leather.
"It won't hold up to rough stock, but I figured Copper wouldn't need something strong." Paxton stood beside me and rubbed Copper's face. "He's a very well-trained horse."
I smiled up at Paxton. "Thank you. You didn't have to do that."
"No, but, like I said, the leather-smith was going to throw it away. Now let's get going." He crossed to his horse's stall, picking up the heavy saddle and cinch on the way. I watched him saddle and bridle his horse before we both led our horses out into the early morning. The sun was barely creeping over the horizon, but it was enough to see by and as I swung up onto Copper’s back, I marvelled at the way the sun glinted off the small river that I had washed and bathed in the last week. The town was beautiful, but I wouldn't miss it. I knew better things were on the horizon for me.
We walked out of town, horses side by side. The rooster crowed to wake the rest of the sleepy town.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The first day was long and boring. Paxton mostly rode in silence and I spent most of the day reading the book of magic while the horses plodded along. We stopped and ate the loaf of bread for lunch beside a stream that trickled through the forest. Birds above us called and trilled, the sound echoing through the treetops.
The horses had wandered down to the stream and were grazing on the lush grass that grew along the shore.
"So, tell me something, Morgan," Paxton said around a bite of bread.
"What?"
"Where did you get that book?"
I stopped reading and looked up at him. "From an old woman in a convent," I said. I kicked myself as soon as the words had left my mouth. All the time we had spent together had lowered my defenses and here I was telling a near stranger about something that I knew was dangerous.
Paxton tried to hold it in, but laughter bubbled up and spilled through his lips. "An old woman at a convent?" He laughed again at his own words.
It was ridiculous. The women of the convents were good Christian women and shouldn't have books of magic. But Margarette had been different. I still didn't know why the head mistress cowed to her whims, but Margarette's words rang in my ears whenever I thought of her.
"It is your birthright. You must find Avalon."
The thought pushed me to my feet. "We should get going," I said, the sense of urgency carrying my legs down to gather up the horses.
The sound of Paxton's feet on the crunchy leaves of the forest floor behind me let me know he was following.
"Copper," I said.
The chestnut gelding's ears perked, and he lifted his head, a mouthful of grass hanging out either side of him lips. He nickered, sounding silly with his mouth full.
I snorted a laugh and then grabbed hold of his mane, flinging myself up onto his back. I checked to be sure I still had the magic book under the waistband of my skirt, adjusted myself comfortably. We walked the rest of the day. By nightfall I was worn out and Paxton didn't look much better.
"Let's stop for the night," he said.
I glanced around and found a small clearing with a fallen tree that would serve as a good place to camp. Pressing Copper that way, Paxton followed with his horse and we both dismounted. Paxton took his horse's tack off, then tied him low by a tree so he could graze a bit. I set Copper loose. He wouldn't go far and I wanted him to get a good night’s sleep after a full day of riding.
I watched as Paxton used long grass, twisted into a grooming tool to scrub the sweat off his horse. He was a good, kind man. The type that any young woman might want to marry and settle down with. His head turned, catching my gaze, and he grinned as though he knew what I was thinking.
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I quickly rose to check out the space under the tree trunk. It seemed big enough for one person to sleep. It would be protected and warm enough.
"Here," Paxton said, holding the saddle blanket from his horse. "Go under and I'll pass it to you. It will make a nice bed."
I ducked under the fallen tree and Paxton passed me the thick wool blanket. It was damp, but it was better than sleeping on the ground.
Sliding back out of the small alcove, I asked, "Do you want me to take the first watch?"
"I'll take the first one. You sleep."
I nodded and climbed back into the small bed and I heard the sounds of Paxton climbing onto the downed tree above me.
"Hey, Paxton?" I called.
"Yes, Morgan?" he replied from right above me.
"Do you think we will make it to the south shore?" My stomach growled, but I covered it up by clearing my throat.
"Of course, we will. Now go to sleep."
I closed my eyes. It didn't take long until I was asleep.
Paxton didn't wake me till nearly morning, meaning I had a lot of sleep and he had hardly any, but by daybreak he was back up.
We rode slow all morning. I sang to Copper for a while, to Paxton's amusement.
Later I caught him whistling the tune to Copper's song. It was endearing. Sometimes I sang along, too. Quietly to myself.
By mid-day I was bored. My eyes could no longer focus on the book. Copper and I had taken over the lead, since Copper liked to move
along at a nice forward walk.
I looked forward again and gave Copper a squeeze and a cluck that had him stepping up into a trot.
"I thought you said you wanted to take it slow?" Paxton called when I nudged Copper into a canter.
"I just want to breeze him a bit, he has been lazing about for a week."
Copper didn't mind. He loved to run. The wind whipped past my ears, drowning out the sound of the horses' hooves. I knew that Paxton was following me though. I peeked behind me and sure enough, Paxton's black horse was racing along, trying to keep up. His large hooves pounded the earth with exaggerated action. His leg feathering further accentuated his more upright movement and his thick mane was blowing up into Paxton's face. Paxton was hunched forward, a big grin on his face.
I laughed and turned back, closing my eyes to enjoy the feeling of freedom. Wrapped around Copper tight, I barely shifted as he turned a bend in the path. The feeling of freedom from the back of a horse was the best life had to offer.
"Morgan!" Paxton yelled from behind me. I opened my eyes in time to see a couple small children on the path just as Copper skidded, throwing his weight back and dropping his hind quarters in an effort to stop. The little girl screamed and dragged her younger sibling off the path just as we ground to a halt. I slid from Copper's back, already apologizing to the pair.
"I'm so sorry, are you all right?"
The little boy burst into tears, sobbing into the girl's dress. The girl's lip trembled, but she puffed up her chest and glared at me.
"You shouldn't ride so fast this close to town," she said, wrapping her arms around the little boy.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know there was a town."
Paxton had stopped his big gelding beside us. "Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes, you just frightened my little brother." She looked down at the boy who was calming down. "Come on, Jack, let’s go."
The two walked off quickly down the path.
"There is a town nearby," I said.
"Thank God, I could use a rest and I think Midnight could to."
"Your horse's name is Midnight?" I asked with smirk.
"Your horse's name is Copper. It's hardly more original," Paxton countered.
He had a point. I shot him a grin.
I swung up onto Copper's back. He was sweaty from the gallop and shook his head to get the biting bugs off his neck before he started forward at a walk. The children had run off, but it was just one more bend in the path before the forest opened up to a wide clearing. Cattle grazed on the side of a small hill that rose to a cluster of houses. They were low and shoddy, but not run down. The reeds that covered the one room abodes were fresh and laid straight and the walls were smooth packed mud and rocks.
Goats bleated from their places tied beside the various homes and the path was wider here, leaving enough space for four horses abreast between the houses. There weren't any buildings like the inn here, and I assumed we would just keep riding, but Paxton stopped his horse and slid to the ground beside an older man who was sitting on a bucket and leaning back against the front of one of the shacks.
"Good day, sir. We are looking for a place to rest for the night."
The old man stared at Paxton for a long moment before he grinned, displaying a few stray teeth, and began to cackle in a way that sent shivered down my spine.
"You'll find no place like that here," the old man said once he controlled his laughter. He glanced at me, but continued to speak to Paxton. "Take your evil and keep riding." He waved his hand at us in a shooing motion.
"Ignore him," a young woman said from behind us. "There is a spare cottage on the far end of town that you can rest in. You can leave the horses in the small paddock behind it. Just don't expect much, it's been abandoned for near a year now."
"Thank you," I said. She curtsied, holding the sides of her plain dress, then turned and walked back the way she had come.
The old man had closed his eyes, looking for all the world dead except for the fact he was snoring.
Paxton led his horse through the town with Copper and I following behind him. I marvelled not for the first time at the width of Paxton's shoulders and his unreasonable height and his pale complexion.
The scent of cooking meat reached my nose and the word I had been repeating to myself all day came tumbling back to the forefront of my mind. "Agan," I said.
I apparently hadn't said it as quietly as I meant to because Paxton turned to look at me.
"Did you say something?"
"Huh? No," I said.
He glanced over at the spit fire roasting a pig, then continued walking.
We found the abandoned cottage easily enough. The roof was faded yellow reeds and the walls were crumbling in areas, but it looked like it would stand up to mild weather at least. We circled to the back where we found a small overgrown paddock with fencing secure enough to keep the horses in overnight. Not that Copper would go far, but it was big enough for the pair of them, so Paxton untacked while I used some balled up grass to scrub the sweat from Copper’s coat. Paxton did the same once he had his saddle and bridle off, then we turned the two out.
They both rolled several times, scratching their itches on the cool grass, then set to work filling their bellies. My belly chose that moment to growl loud.
"Must be dinner time," Paxton said with a chuckle. "Why don't you see about airing out the shack and I'll go round us up some dinner."
The scent of the roasting pig wafted through the windows as I shook out the blankets covering an old bed. I found a straw broom that had seen better days, but it worked well enough to chase the cobwebs away and clear the leaves from the corners. It was nice to look out the small open window and see Copper grazing alongside Midnight.
Paxton's large frame ducked through the door and I spun to see what he had managed to get to eat, but his hands were empty except for his hat.
"I tried, they have no use for coins and I have nothing else to trade. We will have to hunt in the morning for food." He put his hat on the small table I had cleared.
I nodded. "Thanks for trying," I turned back to the window and tossed the rest of the leaves I had gathered out. It was nearly dark and if I fell asleep, I knew I wouldn't feel hungry, so instead of finishing the cleaning I set the broom down and sat nervously on the edge of the bed.
Paxton stared at me for a moment before he stepped across the room. "I can sleep over here," Paxton said shoving a small table and chair over. "It's no problem."
I grinned up at him. "Thank you." I handed him a ratty blanket, and we both readied ourselves for bed. We didn't have a lamp, so as soon as the sun set, the cabin was pitch black.
The days were getting shorter, and the sun was really all that was keeping the daytime warm. Even under the blanket and with a large woman's cardigan I had found under some crates wrapped tightly around me, I was still chilled, making it impossible to sleep.
I shivered and my teeth chattered as I listened to Paxton's soft snores. He had fallen asleep with his head rested on his arm, curled up in the corner, his booted feet blocking the door. If anyone entered, he'd be sure to wake up.
If I had some food in my belly, I would be warmer. After a few hours, the sounds of the village had stopped, everyone had gone into their shacks for the night too. I crept out of the bed and slowly moved a rickety chair to the window. The magic word had been burning on the tip of my tongue and I had a feeling it would help me in this situation, though I didn't know how. I looked all around, but it was dark and the only sound was the soft munching of the horses in the pen.
I set my foot up on the seat of the chair and rose, clinging to the windowsill so I didn't topple right off the chair, when a hand wrapped around my arm.
"What do you think you're doing?"
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I startled and nearly slipped off the chair, but Paxton's strong hand held me upright.
"Jesus, Paxton. You scared me."
"Well, you scared me. I thought someone ha
d come in through the window to rob us. Where are you going?"
"I couldn't sleep so I was going to go check on the horses," I said, pulling the cardigan tighter around me.
Paxton shook his head. "You could have woken me to get out the door, I wouldn't have minded."
"I'm sorry." My boots stepped off the chair and I moved to the door. "I'll be right back. You don't have to wait up for me." I shut the door behind me quickly, being careful not to make a sound that might wake anyone in the village.
Around behind the shack, I cooed softly to Copper and peeked in the window I had been trying to slip out. I couldn't see Paxton, so moved closer and heard the sound of his deep breathing. He must have gone back to sleep.
The clouds had rolled in, mostly blocking the light of the moon, but there was a little light and I could see my way back towards where they had been roasting the pig. The smell still lingered on the breeze that had kicked up and I worried someone would hear the rumbling of my stomach, but every cabin was dark and there were no sounds as I passed the small homes.
I approached the fire pit with the spit, but the meat had been taken away. The carcass sat nearby, stripped completely bare of all meat. Only bones remained. My shoulders dropped in disappointment. I glanced around the town and caught sight of something beside one of the silent shacks.
I moved closer and to my surprise it was strips of boar meat, hanging high enough that scavengers wouldn't be able to reach. Of course, that meant it was also out of my reach. I studied the meat and the rope hanging from the tree. Someone must have climbed the tree to hang it there, but the tree didn't have any low branches I could use to pull myself up.
I glanced around again, being sure no one was watching, before I tried to shimmy up the rough trunk of the tree. By the third time I landed on the ground, scraping my thighs, I gave up.
I lay in the dirt staring up at the succulent meat, wishing I could have just a tiny morsel of it, even though I knew it was wrong to steal. The sound of a coyote howl rung through the silence, an eerie reminder that I should be inside. I sighed and moved to push myself off the ground, when the word popped back into my head. I lay back down and looked up at the food.
